CAE Speaking

Duration: 15 minutes (23 minutes for groups of three at centres

where there's an odd number of candidates).
Participants: Candidates interviewed in pairs or threes. Two
examiners: one examiner asks the questions, the other acts as
assessor and doesn't speak during the interview.
Format: The test consists of four parts.

Part 1: Interview
Tests ability to: use language for social purposes, e.g. making
introductions, answering questions, stating an opinion.
This first section of the CAE Speaking exam lasts about three
minutes (five minutes for groups of three) and gives the
examiner the chance to find out a little about you and your partner
through some 'getting-to-know-you' questions. These will be simple
questions to help 'break the ice', for example questions about your
family, your studies, where you come from or what your interests are.
Example Questions
The interview will begin with the examiner saying something like:
Q: Hello. My name is ........ and this is my colleague ........
Q: And your names are?
Q: Can I have your mark sheets please? ........ Thank you.
Q: First of all we'd like to know something about you.
The examiner will then ask each of you some questions. For example:
Q: Tell me about where you come from.
Q: Do you enjoy studying English?
Q: Do you have any hobbies or interests?
Q: Why are you preparing for the CAE exam?
Tips!
You'll gain extra marks if you're able to give full, relevant answers to
these questions.
1) Offer more than the bare minimum in your answers.
Q: Tell me about where you come from.
A: I come from Bielefeld. (Don't stop there!) It's in the northern part
of Germany. It's a lovely place with a busy town and it's also close to
some nice countryside.
2) Avoid short, 'yes', 'no' answers.

Q: Do you enjoy studying English?

A: Yes I do! I quite like studying languages and English in particular.
I have a lot of English friends and love to be able to communicate
with them in their own language. And I love being able to read
English novels. Q: Do you have any hobbies or interests?
A: No, not hobbies really. I used to like collecting things as a child
but that doesn't interest me now. I suppose you could say music is a
big interest, I especially like listening to English bands.
3) Offer examples to help you explain a statement.
Q: Why are you preparing for the CAE exam?
A: Because it's important for my job. As part of my appraisal, my
boss advised me to take an English exam to help me develop my
professional skills. I passed FCE last year and if I'm successful at CAE
I'd like to try CPE.

Part 2: Long Turn

Tests ability to: speak at length coherently, use language to
describe, compare and contrast, hypothesise and comment upon a
topic.
Part 2 of the CAE Speaking test lasts about 4 minutes (six minutes
for groups of three). Candidate A is passed a set of pictures and
has to speak about the pictures without interruption, either from the
examiner or their partner. When Candidate A has finished the
examiner asks Candidate B to answer a brief question about the
pictures. The roles are then reversed: Candidate B is given a
different set of pictures and speaks for 1 minute followed by
Candidate A, who answers a brief question about the pictures.
Example Task
At this stage of the interview the examiner will say something on the
lines of:
Q: In this part of the exam I'm going to give each of you three
photographs and I'd like you to talk about them on your own for
about a minute and also to answer a question briefly about your
partner's photographs.
Q: Here are your pictures (Candidate A). They show people in
different educational settings. I'd like you to talk about two of these
photos and compare the settings and say how the students may
be feeling in each one.
Q: All right?

Notice there are TWO instructions here: first to 'compare and

contrast' the photographs and also to speculate on how the students
'may be feeling'. In Part 2 candidates are required to show they can
do more than simply describe and will need to show the ability to
speculate or hypothesize on a particular topic or scene.
Tips!
1. The picture set will have a general theme but try to find two that
are either very similar or very different in some way. This will give
you a basis on which to compare and/or contrast the two pictures. In
the example above, pictures two and three show two contrasting
educational settings: the formal lecture theatre in picture two
compared to the relaxed outdoor scene in picture three.
2. In terms of hypothesizing, pictures two and three offer a good
opportunity to speculate on how students in each contrasting
situation might be feeling. Think about opportunities for
hypothesizing when choosing your pictures.
3. Signpost the end of your talk by adding a personal reaction to the
pictures. For example: 'The two people in picture three look like
they're enjoying themselves but personally, I think I'd prefer to
spend my study time in a lecture theatre where I'd be more able to
concentrate on learning'.
4. Many people preparing for the CAE oral exam worry about not
having enough to say in the time available or not having enough time
to express their ideas. The best way to get the timing right is to
practise making short talks on various topics on your own. (Or in
front of a friend if you're feeling brave!)

Part 3: Discussion
Tests ability to: use language to discuss and interpret, to agree,
disagree or agree to disagree, negotiate and collaborate, to rank or
classify.
In Part 3 of the CAE Speaking test, which lasts about four minutes
(six minutes for groups of three), the examiner will ask you and
your partner to talk about another set of visual prompts together.
Example Task
The examiner will say something on the lines of:
Q: I'd like you to talk about something together for three minutes.
(Five minutes for groups of three)
Q: Here are your pictures showing different occupations. Discuss the
role these people have in our lives. Then decide which job tends to be
the most stressful.
Q: All right?

Notice there are TWO instructions. The first asks you to 'discuss' the
role of the people, and the second asks you to 'decide' which job is
the most stressful. This means you're required not only to talk about
each visual but also to show your ability to negotiate and collaborate
with your partner. You don't have to reach agreement but you must at
least work towards this.
Tips!
It will help both yourself and your partner if you work together
collaboratively on this task.
1. Be prepared to ask your partner for his or her opinion rather than
simply stating your own.
2. Listen 'actively' to what your partner says, responding to
comments he or she makes. Use expressions such as the following to
comment on something:
"That's an interesting point.""I was interested in what you said
about ...""So, when you say ........, do you mean ........?""Could you
explain what you mean by .......?"
3. Use expressions to allow yourself time to think. For example:
'That's a good question.', 'Well, let me think ...'
4. In order to bring the discussion to a constructive conclusion try
using expressions such as the following:
"So, weighing up the pros and cons, do you think ?""Are we
generally in agreement that ?""So, all in all do we feel ?"
"Essentially, do we all agree that ?""So, to sum up ""So, in
general ""It seems weve reached the conclusion that "

Part 4: Three-way discussion

Tests ability to: use language to summarise, report and explain
decisions; develop a topic further.
In Part 4 of the CAE Speaking test, which lasts about four minutes
(six for groups of three), the examiner will join the discussion and
ask candidates questions related to the visuals used in Part 3.
Example Questions
Q: Do any of these jobs have a special status in your country?

Q: Which jobs do you think offer the greatest personal satisfaction?

Q: Do any of these jobs appeal to you?
Tips!
1. Again, avoid short, 'yes', 'no' answers to the examiner's questions.
2. Use techniques to make your contributions powerful, for example
by using short, personal anecdotes to help make a point.
3. Continue to work with your partner. Respond constructively and
show interest in things he or she says.